In over four decades, for the first time, Mumbaicha Raja of Ganesh Gully will shrink to a manageable size of 3-4 feet. With the outbreak of the coronavirus, this decision was taken keeping the pandemic in view.
The celebrations of the Ganesh Gully Mumbaicha Raja started way back in 1927, but this is the first time the idol will be this small in size. When the festival was initiated 93 years ago, this Mandal had become famous for its humongous idols. The trend of gigantic idols started in the year 1977 with some of them being around 18 to 22 feet, some even taller.
Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra had earlier asked the organizers of the Ganeshotsav festival to celebrate the 10-day-long festival keeping social distancing protocols in mind in view of the coronavirus. Therefore, most of the mega mandals have adhered to the wishes of the CM and have agreed to reduce the height of the respective idols to 3 feet.
Several mandals and organisers have further contended that given the guidelines, the reduced dimensions of idols were the need of the hour. Also adding that to the devotees to would come to pray, the size of the idol would not matter. Smaller idols would essentially mean lesser crowds, simple decorations and diminishing donations with fewer VIPs who grace the Ganeshotsav celebrations.
The CM had earlier asked for opinions from the office-bearers regarding the height of the idols and immersion procession among others. Swapnil Parab, secretary of the Lalbaug Sarvjanik Utsav Mandal had said that the idols are likely to be immersed in artificial lakes this year. He stated that the CM suggested that the heights of the idols be small so that they can be immersed in artificial lakes.
Maharashtra currently has 1,35,769 cases of coronavirus with Mumbai being the epicentre with 67,586 cases.
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